This section provides an overview for safety switches as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 46 safety switch manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked safety switch companies as of November, 2024: 1.Red Fox Safety Products, 2.Hermann ZANDER GmbH & Co. KG, 3.Walther Electric.
Table of Contents
Safety switches, also called safety switches, are installed at locations where safety must be ensured, such as machine tool doors and safety fences. A door opening while the machine tool is in motion could lead to serious injury. Therefore, safety switches are necessary to distinguish between machine operation and machine standstill and to ensure that the door opens only when the machine is stopped. There are two types of safety switches: a locking type with a locking mechanism and a non-contact type.
Safety switches are mainly used as interlocking devices that do not allow the operation or startup of equipment in an unsecured state. Furthermore, if you want to lock a door or safety fence so that it will not open while the equipment is in operation, select one with a locking function.
Examples of common uses include the following:
In addition, the safety switch may also be used to ensure the safety of the equipment itself rather than simply for human safety applications. Especially in production lines where multiple robot arms operate in tandem, there is a possibility that the robot arms will come into contact with each other and be damaged if they start operating at an unexpected time. Therefore, it is necessary to configure the equipment to ensure safe operation with the same configuration as above.
There are two main types of safety switches: those with a locking function and those with a non-contact function. The mechanism and features of each are described below.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Legrand was established in 1865, and is headquartered in West Hartford, Connecticut. The company specializes in electrical and digital building infrastructures, and serves diverse industries, including residential, commercial, and industrial. Its North and Central American wing is the biggest part of Legrand worldwide which has over 6,700 employees. The company's comprehensive product range includes critical power and infrastructure, lighting controls and systems, AV networking and wire, and cable management. With an ongoing devotion to sustainable solutions, the organization continue to be a longstanding partner in building infrastructures.
Max Machinery, Inc. (MMI) is an American ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of liquid flow measurement instruments established in 1967 and based in Healdsburg, California. The company offers flow meters for fluids of varying viscosities including gear, helical, piston, and water models. It also stocks flow meter accessories such as filters, digital indicators, vapor eliminators, and level controllers. MMI primarily serves clients in the oil and gas, industrial manufacturing, trucking, and chemical processing industries.
Macnaught USA, Inc. was founded in Australia in 1948 as a manufacturer of robust industrial flow meters for clean process liquids. Its product line encompasses equipment for fluid handling, fuel transfer, grease, oil handling, including Macnaught OIL Equipment, Macnaught BOP (Battery Operated Oil Pumps), lubrication equipment, high-flow fuel transfer pump systems, retractable hose reels, and Industrial Flow meters, among other offerings.The company supplies equipment for coal handling, lubrication, hose reels with motors, flow meters, and various other products, with its flow meters and fluid handling equipment serving the agriculture, mining, and vehicle repair industries.
Banner Engineering Corporation, established in 1966 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial automation products. They offer an extensive range of sensors, including proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, and limit switches, for detecting object presence, position, and speed. Additionally, Banner provides a different types of switches, such as pushbuttons, toggle switches, and rotary switches, to control electricity flow and offer system feedback. Their wide array of controls includes PLCs, HMIs, and motion controllers, enabling automation of industrial processes.
Honeywell International Inc. was founded in 1885 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Honeywell is a diversified technology and manufacturing company to global customers in many industries such as aerospace, building technologies, performance materials, manufacturing, and safety. Honeywell produces hardware and software solutions for each industry it serves. In building technologies, Honeywell designs access controls, electrical and wiring, fire life safety, and employee training services. In aerospace, Honeywell designs cockpit systems and displays, engines, cabin management and cleaning, and health and usage monitoring.
Comus International, a company founded in 1978 and headquartered in New Jersey, United States, is a manufacturer of electronic and electromechanical products. The company offers a wide range of products that include proximity sensors, tilt and tip-over switches, and solid-state relays. These products are used in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and industrial automation for applications such as motion sensing, position detection, and safety control systems. The company also offers customer services that include technical support and assistance to meet customers’ requirements.
Pearse Betram+ was founded in 1947 in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Today Pearse Bertram+ is an end-to-end solutions provider for the manufacturing industry. Pearse Bertram+ is ISO 9001:2015 certified and also UL508A (industrial control panels), IPC 620 (wire harness assemblies), and IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, and IPC-7711 certified for soldering. Pearse Bertram+ operates in both contract manufacturing and engineering support. The manufacturing segment includes electrical, pneumatic, robotic, hydraulic, and process systems. Engineering support includes support for operation of robotics, machinery design and usage, industrial automation, value engineering, and auditing.
Process Control Systems, Inc. operates out of Chaska, Minnesota and has a 40-year history of manufacturing rotational speed monitoring systems designed to monitor belt conveyors, bucket elevators, screw conveyors as well as other types of material handling and processing equipment with 5-year warranties. Process Control Systems products include switches, tachometers, monitors, and more. Process Control Systems products are often used in belt conveyors, dust collection systems, bucket elevators, and fans. In such machinery they can indicate damage or slippage, count or prove rotation, and indicate operating metrics such as speed and temperature.
Red Fox Safety Products, started in 2013, is the manufacturer and supplier of wireless remote kill switches which cut off the power supply to the engine/motor at the push of a button to ensure safety and prevent engine-related accidents. The company, located in Drechsel Rd Worley, Idaho, produces switches that are used in rock crushers, construction applications, fuel delivery truck shut down, military training, and farm tractors. The unit has receivers between the operated equipment and the transmitter which has a button to switch the gear down and can be clipped on the shirt or belt.
Pepperl+Fuchs, Inc. was founded in Mannheim, Germany in 1945 developing the forerunner of the proximity switch. Pepperl+Fuchs continues to develop proximity sensors as well as other industrial sensors including ultrasonic sensors, rotary encoders, positioning systems, display and signal processing, vibration monitoring, industrial communication, and signal processing as well as related accessories and software. Explosive protection products include safety barriers, surge protection, wireless solutions, HMI systems, power supplies, electrical explosion protection equipment, level measurement, and related software.
Euchner-USA, Inc. is based in East Syracuse, New York, USA, and is a manufacturer of industrial safety equipment that was established in 1989 as a subsidiary of Germany’s Euchner GmbH + Co. KG. The company produces magnetically coded and transponder-coded safety switches, emergency stop devices, and safety relays for control systems. It also offers light curtains, handheld pendant stations for controlling machinery or processes, and read heads with external evaluation functionality. The company’s products are commonly used in industrial manufacturing operations, including within the automotive, robotics, and machine tool industries.
PLC Hardware (PLCH) was founded in 1993 and operates out of Owings Mills, Maryland. PLCH is an independent distributor of used and surplus industrial automation and networking equipment. PLCH offers a 1-year warranty on all products and ships globally. PLCH’s emphasis is on hardware and distributes hardware from such brands as Cisco, HP Networking, Rockwell Automation and Siemens. A few of the many categories of hardware include application networking products, cables, optical networking systems, routers, switches, rack servers, content delivery devices, as well as HVAC controllers, and safety integrated systems.
Walther Electric, established in Somerset, New Jersey in 1897, is a distributor of industrial electrical components and power distribution systems. Their product portfolio includes Portable Power Distribution Units, Remote Access Interface Ports, Manual Disconnect Switches, and EV Charging Stations. Their products are used in industries such as OEM’s, food and beverage processing, marine and shipbuilding, emergency preparedness and broadcasting. They also provide services including product selection, after sales service and technical support.
Taylor Material Handling & Conveyor has a 50 year history and operated out of Toledo, Ohio, serving regionally as well as nationwide customers as a distributor for machines and components used in the industrial, material handling, chemical, appliance, automotive, construction, forging, and founding industries. Taylor offers a full line of conveyors ranging from automation conveyors to wire mesh belt conveyors. Taylor also offers below the hook attachments, ergonomic lifting solutions, forklift service lifts, hoists, trolleys, electrifications, product packaging equipment, overhead lifting solutions, packaging automation, warehouse equipment as well as custom equipment.
Dietz Electric was founded in 1974 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dietz Electric is a broad-line stocking distributor offering electric motors, drives, and power transmission products. Dietz Electric also offers customization options to test, manufacture, modify, and repair all product offerings. Product offerings include electric motors, hazardous locations motors, custom electric motors, variable frequency drives, motor controls, power transmission solutions, and specialty items such as purge systems, Uras vibrators, disc brakes, transformers, and AC line reactors.
IMO Precision Controls, a company founded in 1972 and headquartered in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial automation and control products. The company offers a wide range of products and solutions, including automation products, circuit protection, control and switch gears, and solar products. Their products find application in diverse industries such as manufacturing, energy, and transportation. The company also offers customer services that include technical support, value-added assembly, training courses, and tailored solutions to meet clients’ requirements.
elobau Elektrobauelemente GmbH & Co., founded in 1972 with headquarters in Germany, is a manufacturer of contactless sensor technology, operator controls, machine safety, and level measurement. The company's products include multi-axis joysticks, multi-function handles, push buttons, sensor components, and continuous level measurement. elobau’s products are used in both mobile (off-highway) and industrial applications. The company’s products can be found in aircraft, off-road vehicles, agricultural machinery, and industrial machinery. elobau Elektrobauelemente GmbH & Co. has been carbon neutral since 2010.
Pilz is headquartered in Ostfildern, Germany. Pilz designs components, systems, and services to assist industrial plant and machinery customers globally. Customers include many industries such as metals, pharmaceutical, food, presses, and robotics. Pilz serves customers through 4 venues: products and industries, services, support, and training. Products and services include everything from sensor technology and small controllers to robotics to software and operation monitoring. Services include machinery and workplace safety and international compliance. Support is offered 24/7. Training is available through courses and qualification programs.
Siemens began in 1847 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Siemens focuses in automation and digitalization technology and operates globally. Siemens’s 5 operating segments are digital industries, smart infrastructure, mobility, Siemens Healthineers, and Siemens Financial Services. Siemens Financial Services provides debt and equity investment as well as financing solutions. Siemens Healthineers is a medical devices company that provides products and consulting. Mobility includes passenger and freight transportation. Smart infrastructure includes full solutions for electrification. Digital industries offer both software and hardware for industries and production efficiency.
4B GROUP is a manufacturer of bucket elevator and conveyor parts and components that was originally established in 1888 in Leeds, United Kingdom. The company offers elevator belts with pre-measured loops for elevator buckets, elevator bolt fasteners designed to be adjustable and reusable, and sprockets for meshing with chain or track to transmit rotary motion. It also offers related safety equipment such as hazard monitors, alignment sensors, and control units. The company’s products are used mainly by clients in the food processing, mining, and recycling industries.
Hermann ZANDER GmbH & Co. KG, founded in 1950 and based in Aachen, Germany, is a manufacturer of electrical systems and equipment. The company produces products such as safety sensors, cam controllers, micro switches, coded RFID safety switches, and power supply units and supplies to different industries, including automotive, manufacturing, packaging, shipping, and conveyor systems. With the ISO 9001 quality certification, the company follows all the quality standards to manufacture the products and supply them to customers worldwide.
Euchner was established in 1953 as a manufacturer of industrial safety products and is based in Germany. The products designed and manufactured by the company are used by industries that want to minimize risks and hazards. One example of their equipment is a Transponder with Coded Key Systems EKS and CKS which is used for controlling machine functions, storing process parameters, maintaining different access rights, and much more and it helps with procedures like automatic logging on and off for safe and controlled access. There are also safety switches, relays, identification systems, emergency stop devices, and similar items.
steute Technologies GmbH & Co. KG founded in Löhne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in 1961, is a manufacturer of electrical sensors and control units. The company manufactures foot switches, optical sensors, magnetic sensors, command devices, and wireless receivers. It has subsidiaries in 11 countries around the world, and sales and service partners in a further 30. At the end of 2012, the company opened a production plant in Shanghai, China and it also employs 450 people worldwide.
DOLD is a manufacturer of safety and interlocking devices, founded in 1928, with headquarters located in Furtwangen, Germany. Their product range includes safety relays, electronic housings, safety switches, as well as solenoid interlocks, and key transfer systems. These devices play a crucial role in ensuring secure operations, controlling access, and protecting workers and equipment during manufacturing processes. DOLD is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 for quality management and quality systems.
VITECTOR was established in 1918 and is a manufacturer of sensor products and solutions based in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The company manufactures various products such as airwave switches, rubber profile, reflective photo eye, safety light curtain, and pull-in protection. The products have been used in various applications such as sectional doors, rolling doors, and high speed doors. The company has obtained the certification of ISO 9001:2015 for the production of the optic sensor systems.
ReeR S.p.A., founded in 1959 in Turin, Italy, is a manufacturer of optoelectronic sensors and controllers for industrial safety. Its products, including laser scanners, contactless interlocks, and photocells, are essential in manufacturing, robotics, automotive, and packaging industries. The company's innovation culture and adherence to ISO9001 specifications lead to the highest level of protection for workers and equipment and make products appealing to global clients. ReeR S.p.A provides technical support and know-how for clients to select, install, and maintain safety solutions.
SUNS International LLC was established in 1995 and is located in Massachusetts, U.S.A., and is a manufacturer of industrial control components. The company's product folio includes foot switches, push buttons, and control stations with a wide range of applications in textile machinery, elevators, construction, packaging machinery, and, material handling sectors. The company manufactures products according to ISO9001:2015, ISO13485, and AS9100 certifications and complies with UL, CSA, CE, and CCC standards. The company also offers load cells, hour meters, LED indicator lights, terminal blocks, and, heavy-duty limit switches needed in the solar and wind power production stations.
K.A. Schmersal GmbH & Co. KG, founded in 1945 and headquartered in Wuppertal, Germany, is a manufacturer of systems and solutions for machine safety and occupational health and safety. The company’s over 18,000 devices include safety sensors, safety switches with separate actuators, and solenoid interlocks. It also stocks optoelectronic safety devices, safety relay modules, and safety controllers. The company has a presence in over 60 countries, with seven production sites in three countries, including Brazil, India, and China. All its production subsidiaries are ISO 9001 certified, and its laboratory at the Wuppertal site is recognized by DAkkS and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited.
Schmersal GmbH & Co. KG, founded in 1945, by Heinz and Philip Schmersal, is a name in safety technology, is a manufacturer of safety technology solutions, specializing in switchgear and control devices for various industries. With a diverse range of mechanical and electro-sensitive switching devices, they offer an extensive collection of safety switching systems and devices for safeguarding both humans and machinery. The company looks after three key domains: lift technology, automation technology, and safety technology. Their substantial approach position them as a global supplier of safety switching devices, catering to the safety and automation needs of various industries.
Pizzato Elettrica S.r.l., founded in 1984 and headquartered in Marostica, Italy, is a manufacturer specializing in safety and control devices. The company produces various products, including safety switches, position switches, control devices, and machine safety systems. The products are designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of industrial machinery and automation processes. The components offer benefits such as stability, durability, and compliance with international safety standards, making them indispensable in industries like manufacturing, automotive, robotics, and packaging. It offers advanced solutions for machine safety and control, resulting in the protection of both personnel and equipment in various industrial applications.
Autonics Corporation, established in 1977 and based in Busan, South Korea, is a developer and manufacturer of automation products, which are marketed worldwide. Some of its products include sensors, peripheral connection equipment, motion devices, control devices, and process automation instruments. The automation products are used in various industries, including automotive, packaging, machine tools, metal, and marine. The company has 12 international offices spanning over 100 countries, a fully automated warehouse system, and various international quality certifications, including RoHS, CE, UL, and EAC. Its safety products meet the functional safety standards IEC 61508 and mechanical safety standards ISO 13849.
Omron Corporation, started in 1933 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of automation components, equipment, and systems, and it developed the first contactless proximity switch in 1960. It has four domains, including industrial automation, electronic components, healthcare, and social systems, and it provides products and services in around 120 countries and regions. Some of its products include microsensing devices, access control systems, industrial robots, surveillance cameras, and blood pressure monitors. In 1971, it developed the first online cash machine, and in 1972, it established Japan’s first welfare factory.
ABB E-mobility provides electric vehicle charging solutions for customers around the globe. ABB E-mobility offers DC fast chargers as well as AC chargers with focus on reliability and uptime. Since 2010, ABB E-mobility has sold over 50,000 DC fast chargers and over 1 million total AC chargers. ABB E-mobility offers home single and multi-charge units, retail, workplace, and hospitality charge units, electric vehicle fleet sales, as well as public transportation. Additionally, numerous digital solutions and software services are available.
EAO was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Olten, Switzerland, with manufacturing, sales, and distribution companies around the globe. The company serves core markets of transportation, automotive, heavy-duty & special vehicles, and machinery as a manufacturer of switches, keyboards, control elements, and human-machine interface systems. The company has three product divisions: HMI Components, HMI Systems, and EAO Automotive. Together, they include emergency stop switches, passenger convenience devices in transportation, and other switches for human-machine interfaces across industries.
Idem Safety Switches Limited, established in 2003 and headquartered in Wigan, England, is a manufacturer of machine safety devices. The company designs and manufactures safety interlock switches for machines. Its product portfolio ranges from simple limit switches to stainless steel 316 and explosion proof safety switches covering all aspects of the human-machine interface. These products are used in several industries including food & beverage, automotive and pharmaceutical. . The company has a network of distributors globally, and provides those details on its website.
ABB is a manufacturer and supplier of robotics and process automation products that was established in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1988 following the merger of BBC of Switzerland and ASEA of Sweden. The company specializes in products for electrification and motion control applications. These products include sensors, motors, and drives for in-facility delivery rovers. It also offers transformers, circuit breakers, and inverters for maintaining operational efficiency in automated lines. The company chiefly serves clients in the mining, oil and gas, and food and beverage industries.
BERNSTEIN AG is a manufacturer and distributor of electromechanical components that was established in 1947 in Germany. The company manufactures switches and sensors that range from insulated and metal enclosed to foot switches and safety switchgear. They also provide enclosure technology that deals with the implementation of support systems for various applications such as using housing to accommodate electrical, electronic, or pneumatic components and load-bearing systems made of aluminum and stainless steel. They also offer safety solutions related to the operation of lifts and escalators that are placed in malls and airports
KBT Electrik, established in 1980 and headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, is a heavy-duty conveyor belt and material handling machine safety equipment developer, manufacturer, and B2B supplier. The company's primary products include conveyor belt safety switches, explosion-proof switches, and high-temperature, heavy-duty limit switches used in the mining and steel sectors. It also produces hoisting equipment, such as rotary limit switches and conveyor belt monitoring tilt switch probes, to control material density during the flow of the primary-purpose fluids.
FineTek Co., Ltd, established in 1979 and headquartered in New Taipei City, is an ATEX & IECEX and TAF/ilac-MRA certified manufacturer and supplier of process automation and flow measurement solutions. The company's product portfolio includes Level Transmitters, Flow Measurement devices, Pressure instruments, and Temperature sensors. These products are utilized for monitoring and controlling process conditions, ensuring safety in industrial environments, and optimizing resource allocation. They are adopted by industries such as Water Treatment, Maritime, Steel, Power, and Construction. Additionally, the company offers services in wireless technology integration, pneumatic, and product solutions.
Rockwell Automation, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Milwakee, WI. Rockwell Automation provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions around the world. Rockwell Automation operates through their intelligent devices, software & control, and lifecycle services segments with both hardware and software products and services. The Intelligent Devices segment offers drives, motion, safety, sensing, industrial components, and configured-to-order products. The Software & Control segment provides control and visualization software and hardware, information software, and network and security infrastructure solutions. The Lifecycle Services segment provides consulting, professional services and solutions, and connected and maintenance services through independent distributors.
North American Safety Products, Inc., founded in 1995 and headquartered in Mokena, Illinois, is a manufacturer and distributor of safety and security equipment. Their extensive product range includes vehicle barriers, portable and expandable barriers, anti-fatigue matting, safety switches and controls, and non-slip floor matting. These products are aimed at enhancing workplace safety and efficiently managing traffic and security in diverse settings. The company has OSHA, ANSI, and CSA certifications, meeting the industry standards of safety equipment.
WIKA Group was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Klingenberg, Germany. The company serves industries such as food and beverage, power generation, refrigeration, and semiconductor, but is primarily known for medical equipment. The company’s six primary product market segments are Pressure, Temperature, Level, Force, Flow, and Calibration. In addition, the company offers Industrial IoT services including conditional monitoring and alarming, asset tracking, predictive maintenance, and process automation. The company also offers standard calibration, repair, and consultancy services in addition to providing online tools for customer assistance.
Solar Biz Inc. began in the 1970s in Ft. Atkinson, Wisconson. Solar Biz offers complete solar panel systems for residential and commercial customers ranging from under 5 watts to over 400 watts. Systems include solar panel components with racking and mounting, inverters, power centers, solar charge controllers, batteries, and accessories, AC and DC enclosures, circuit protection, hydro and wind generators and accessories, water pumps and water filtering, tanks, heaters, hot tubs, rain catchments, and appliances such as fans, gas ranges, refrigerators and freezers.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Red Fox Safety Products |
9.4%
|
2 | Hermann ZANDER GmbH & Co. KG |
6.3%
|
3 | Walther Electric |
6.3%
|
4 | EAO Corporation |
6.3%
|
5 | KBT |
4.7%
|
6 | Pearse Bertram+ Streamline Contract Manufacturing |
4.7%
|
7 | PLC Hardware |
4.7%
|
8 | Pilz GmbH & Co. KG |
4.7%
|
9 | elobau GmbH & Co. KG |
4.7%
|
10 | Pepperl+Fuchs Inc. |
4.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the safety switch page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 15 | 51.7% |
Germany | 8 | 27.6% |
United Kingdom | 3 | 10.3% |
Switzerland | 1 | 3.4% |
Italy | 1 | 3.4% |
China | 1 | 3.4% |
28 products are listed.
ifm efector, inc.
50+ people viewing
It is an AS-I safety safety switch that is ideal for applications up to the performance level PLD. Characteristics of the product ・ Closed circuit...
Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
40+ people viewing
Use a compact type RFID safety proximity switch that monitors safety doors with the highest level of illegal operation prevention function. Use up ...